238 research outputs found

    An Investigation of The Dissociation of Certain Cyclohexane Derivatives of Aliphatic Acids

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    For years it has been known that certain cyclic derivatives of aliphatic acids show hormone activity as growth regulators for some plants, and popular acceptance and application of the regulators has been remarkably rapid. Two commercially available growth regulating substances are indoleacetic acid and phenylacetic acid. Others also include indolebutyric acid and naphthaleneacetic acids (13). There are also certain phenoxy derivatives of acetic acid such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (commonly called 2,4 D), which have specific destructive effects to growing plants. Many derivatives of phenoxyacetic acid have been prepared, their physical properties determined, and an attempt made to correlate molecular structure and physical properties. Among the physical properties determined, the degree of ionization (strength of the acid) is thought to be an essential factor. Hayes and Bran h investigated the degree of ionization and determined the ionization constants of phenoxyacetic acid and many of its derivatives. In the present investigation, the degree of ionization of a series of cyclohexane derivatives of -substituted aliphatic acids was studied, since these compounds are comparable in structure to the derivatives mentioned and may have some properties in common

    Deliverable D2.4. Modelling module for biological diversity and functions in land surface water balance

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    The WP2 "Soil Functioning and Ecosystem Services", of the EcoFINDERS project, has produced a modelling module linking soil biodiversity and its functioning to hydrological properties of agricultural soil. The scope is of a proof-of-concept, including only earthworm burrows as a proxy for cropping systems. The biodiversity focus is on anecic earthworm burrows, which traverse vertically into the deep soil. At the LTO Lusignan this group of earthworms dominates the cropping systems of permanent grass (T5) and of three years of grass in a sequence with three years of annual crops (T2). In contrast, a cropping system without grass and with frequent tillage (T1) is dominated by the soil dwelling endogeic earthworms. The hydrological modelling starting point was the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES), but the soil hydrology module in JULES only considers water-flow through the soil matrix. Hence, we incorporated a representation of the water flow through macropores made by earthworms by adopting representation of macropore soil water flow in the open source soil-plant-atmosphere model, DAISY. The macropore parameters used for this module are: density, diameter, depth, conductivity of the macropore wall and soil water pressure. The approach has enabled the assessment of events of waterlogging and water deficiency in agricultural soils in real case scenarios, identifying the periods of risk in relation to earthworm burrowing. Two metrics were calculated from the simulated soil water contents: trafficability and vegetation soil water stress, corresponding to detrimental effects of water logging and insufficient plant accessible water. The presence of burrows could somewhat mitigate the risks for soil water logging and hence increase trafficability of the land. However, a trade-off was observed in a corresponding increase of the risk for water deficiency, although this may be a model artefact as water uptake related to crop type was not included in the model. A sensitive aspect in our data is the number of hydrologically active earthworm burrows which vary by season. The results of this study should not be extrapolated to other soil types or land uses and management. For extrapolation purposes, further research would be required. The output of the modelling is input to an economic assessment, e.g. by quantitatively assessing the occurrences of soil water deficiency and water logging as risk to farmers’ income stability as a result of reduced yields or loss of entire crops

    Where\u27s My Sweetie Hiding?

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    Illustration of a woman in dress looking at a guy with flowers and a letterhttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/10986/thumbnail.jp

    Areas of Outstanding Nineteenth Century Beauty: historic landscape characterisation analysis of protected areas in England

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    1. Establishing and expanding protected areas (PAs) has become a key conservation tool in efforts to halt global declines in biodiversity. Given the ubiquity of past and present human influence, PAs inevitably include landscapes and seascapes with varying levels of human modification. 2. We briefly review the geographic biases in England’s terrestrial PA network, noting that landscape-scale PAs (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) across England disproportionately occupy rugged upland terrain of low agricultural value as a result of the specific history of PA creation, but that this also biases which historic landscapes compose PAs. 3. We explore these biases using Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC). Analysis of HLC revealed that PAs in our focal region in northern England are defined by land-use changes and landscape reorganisation processes of the 18th and19th centuries, primarily that of enclosure. The impact this landscape transformation had on biodiversity should now form a priority for further research. 4. This historic landscape influence on PA designation has resulted in PAs being typically owned by large estates with consequences for their biodiversity, management and wider social impact (for example, greater wealth inequalities). 5. The results highlight that historic landscape perspectives are useful to address conservation priorities and practices related to the protection of biodiversity and could be especially helpful in understanding the interaction between biodiversity protection and historic land-uses, ownership, management, access and other social impacts

    Factors associated with initial treatment and survival for clinically localized prostate cancer: results from the CDC-NPCR Patterns of Care Study (PoC1)

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the large number of men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, there is as yet no consensus concerning appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe the initial treatment patterns for localized prostate cancer in a population-based sample and to determine the clinical and patient characteristics associated with initial treatment and overall survival.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The analysis included 3,300 patients from seven states, diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer in 1997. We examined the association of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with four treatment options: radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and watchful waiting. Diagnostic and treatment information was abstracted from medical records. Socioeconomic measures were derived from the 2000 Census based on the patient's residence at time of diagnosis. Vital status through December 31, 2002, was obtained from medical records and linkages to state vital statistics files and the National Death Index. Multiple logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards models identified factors associated with initial treatment and overall survival, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients with clinically localized prostate cancer received the following treatments: radical prostatectomy (39.7%), radiation therapy (31.4%), hormone therapy (10.3%), or watchful waiting (18.6%). After multivariable adjustment, the following variables were associated with conservative treatment (hormone therapy or watchful waiting): older age, black race, being unmarried, having public insurance, having non-screen detected cancer, having normal digital rectal exam results, PSA values above 20, low Gleason score (2-4), comorbidity, and state of residence. Among patients receiving definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy), older age, being unmarried, PSA values above 10, unknown Gleason score, state of residence, as well as black race in patients under 60 years of age, were associated with receipt of radiation therapy. Overall survival was related to younger age, being married, Gleason score under 8, radical prostatectomy, and state of residence. Comorbidity was only associated with risk of death within the first three years of diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the absence of clear-cut evidence favoring one treatment modality over another, it is important to understand the factors that inform treatment selection. Since state of residence was a significant predictor of both treatment as well as overall survival, true regional differences probably exist in how physicians and patients select treatment options. Factors affecting treatment choice and treatment effectiveness need to be further explored in future population-based studies.</p

    Physical activity engagement in early rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study to inform intervention development

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    © 2015 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Background Physical activity (PA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is lower than in the general population. PA can improve physical function in RA, decrease chronic inflammation and reduce pain, without adversely affecting disease activity. Objectives To explore patient's views on approaches to delivering PA programmes and inform a programme to maximise functional ability through long-term engagement with PA. Methods Qualitative data were collected via three focus groups which explored the views of people with RA of their PA support needs following diagnosis; experiences relating to PA; motivators and facilitators to support PA engagement and the suitability for people with RA of evidence based PA programmes designed for other long-term conditions. Results Study participants (15 female, 4 male; 59.9 (standard deviation (SD) 10.3) years) had a mean time (SD) since diagnosis of 44 (34) months. Data analysis yielded 4 key themes relating to PA programmes: (1) why people join and why they drop out; (2) venue and timing; (3) what people want to do and hear; and (4) who should deliver programmes and how. Conclusion Patients with RA are interested in PA programmes 6 to 12 months after diagnosis, which support safe exercise and provide expert physiotherapist input. Recommendation by trusted health professionals and promotion of the benefits for ‘people like me’ would positively impact recruitment and retention. Key elements of the programme include proficient, safety-oriented exercise guidance, RA education, peer support, relaxation, coping strategies and self-set goals. Findings indicate that a group-based programme with a social aspect would support adherence

    The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

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    The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure
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